Picture frame



Jam 1% 195% P KOLLER, JR

PICTURE FRAME Filed July 23, 1945 INVENTOR PETER KoLLR,JR.

MIIIIII/[IAIIIIQZQ ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 10, 1 950 OFFICE PICTURE FRAME Peter B. Koller, Jr., Buffalo, N. Y.

Application July 23, 1945, Serial No. 606,514

2 Claims. 1

The invention relates to easel type picture frames, and in particular to the back board of such picture frames.

The principal object of the invention has been to provide a back board for picture frames so formed that it may have all of its surfaces which are exposed to view covered with suitable finishing material.

Moreover, certain areas of the board are exposedthrough certain other areas, thereby making it possible to add to the attractiveness of the board by using differently colored finishing material.

Furthermore, it has been an object to devise a method of manufacturing picture frame back boards which shall produce an attractive article convenient and inexpensive to make.

Theabove objects and advantages have been accomplished by the device shown in the accompanying drawings, of which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the back board, supported by the prop and occupying the position when in use upon a picture frame;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the invention showing the prop in its collapsed position;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the invention taken on line III-III of Fjgfz;

Fig. 4 is a similar view taken on line IVIV of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on line V-V of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 shows the front panel in position over the fabric which is to be secured thereto.

The invention comprises a rear panel ll] of cardboard or other suitable material, and a front panel ll of similar material, joined thereto by means and in a manner hereinafter described. The rear panel I is provided with two slots l2 extending longitudinally from the lower edge thereof to a point near the top thereof, thus providing a prop l3 and side members M. The slots i 2 may, if desired, turn inwardly toward each other to provide a U-shaped slot, terminating short of the lower edge of the panel. A score line l is formed across the prop at the upper extremities of the slots to define a line of hinge, whereby the prop will be hingedly attached to the panel. The slots [2 are of a width to expose portions of the finishing material primarily to provide ample portions of the latter and to permit them being conveniently folded over the raw edges of the slot, as hereinafter described.

Extending across the back face of the rear panel, including the prop, is the outer finishing 2 material it. In the method of manufacturing the article, a piece of finishing material of a size considerably larger than the panels may be laid face down upon a suitable supporting surface, not shown, and the rear panel previously formed with its slots disposed upon the finishing material, suitable glue or other adhesive material being applied to either the back face of the finishing material or the adjacent face of the panel In.

The finishing layer it may be of any suitable material to give to the finished article an attractive appearance, such, for instance, as velvet, plush, silk, felt, or the like. Suitable slits 20 are made in the material exposed through the slots i2 at points midway the width thereof, as shown in Fig. 6, thereby providing flaps 2i and 22. The slits 2e are terminated short of the end of the slot l2 and are connected to the corners of the slot by short slits 23, thereby providing V-shaped flaps 24. These slits 20 and 23 may be made before or after the finishing cloth is applied to the rear panel. The flaps 2|, 22, and 24 are now brought up between the slots 12 to cover the raw cut edges of the latter and, where th flaps are l sufliciently wide, they are folded over onto and secured to the inner face portions of the prop l3 and side members M by suitable adhesive, the edges of the folded flaps herein being indicated by the dot and dash lines 2|, 22', and 24. The flap 25 at the lower end of the prop I3 is then turned up and secured to the back surface of the prop as indicated by the horizontal dot and dash line 25' in Fig. 6. There is thus provided a panel I ll having the raw cut edges which define the slots lined or covered with the same material as that overlying the outer face of the panel.

The next step in the method of manufacturing the invention is the preparation of the front panel ll. Since the inner surface of this panel is exposed through the slots I2 when the prop is in its collapsed position shown in Fig. 2 and completely exposed over its entire surface between the inner edges of the side members l4 when the prop is in its operative position shown in Fig. 1, it is very desirable to add to the attractiveness of the invention by covering such exposed surface of this panel with some attractive material, such as silk, preferably having a color different from the color of the finishing fabric [5, if desired. This intermediate facing layer 26 extends across that surface of the front panel which is exposed by the prop and the slots l2, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 5, and is secured in place preferably by means of suitable adhesive.

After the facing layer 26 is secured in place, the front panel H, which is preferably of the same dimensions as the rear panel [0, is superimposed over the inner face of the rear panel and on top of the turned over flaps 2|, 22, 24, and 25. As hereirrbefore pointed out, the finishing material It is considerably larger than the outer boundaries of the panels i and H, thereby providin side flaps 3B and top and bottom fiaps 3| and 32, and these flaps 30, 3 I, and 32 are folded, over the edges of the two superimposed panels and secured on the front or outer face of the front panel H :by suitable adhesive.

dash lines 30, 31', and 32' in Fig. 6. A facing layer 33, of paper or other suitable material, is

secured to the front panel of the completed back board. A facing layer 34 of finishing material, preferably of paper or the like, may be securedto the inner face of the prop E3. The inner layers 33 and 34 serve to cover the edges of the turned over material and the exposed surfaces of the panels.

The picture support comprising the front and rear panels is economical of manufacture. The rear panel may be die cut or stamped out with the slots l2 in a simple operation. The completed article is neat in appearance and attractively finished.

While the device has been shown and described for use as a, back board for picture frames, it is within the scope of the invention to use it to hold a picture which may be attached thereto inany suitable manner, as for instance, by being secured to the face thereof by adhesive, or by having a window opening cut therein through which the picture may be exposed. The term "back? or back board is therefore used in the claims in a generic sense. Obviously, the hinge line l5 could extend at right angles to the position shown so that the prop [3 would then swing laterally about a substantially upright axis. These and other modifications maybe made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims, and therefore it is not intended to otherwise limit the invention to the details herein shown and described.

The edges of these flaps when folded over are shown by the double dot and What is claimed is:

1. A picture supporting easel comprising a front panel and a rear panel superimposed thereon, the rear panel having a, pair of slots cut therein to define an easel prop hinged at one end, and a finishing layer overlying the back surface of the rear panel and having marginal portions folded over onto the front panel to bind both together, said finishing layer having overhanging portions folded into and through the slots and over onto the front face of the rear panelto lie between the two panels for covering the opposed raw edges of the slots, the slots being open to expose the rear face of the front panel therethrough when the prop is inoperative.

2. An easel type picture support comprising a unitary structure having a solid front panel and a superimposed rear panel, the latter having a pair of open slots cut therein and joined at one end to form spaced side members and an interposed prop member integrall connected atone end to-the side members to hinge outwardly from the plane of the latter to serve as a prop, said side'members being spaced from the prop member when the latter is folded thereagainst, and a covering overlying the rear panel and having mar.- gin-al flaps thereabout, folded over onto the front panel to unite the two panels together to form such unitary structure, said covering having a slit located centrally of each open slot and forming relatively narrower flaps folded through i the spaces between the side members and the prop member and inturned between the two panels for covering the opposed edges of the three members.

PETER B. KOLLER, JR.

REFERENCES CITED.

The following references are of record in' the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,373,873 Cross Apr. 17, 1945 

